First Look: Hugh Jackman's Drastic Makeunder for 'Les Miserables'

First Look: Hugh Jackman’s Drastic Makeunder for ‘Les Miserables’

Um, Hugh Jackman? You’re looking a little rough there. Are you okay? Oh, it’s just a shot from the set of Les Miserables? Gotcha! Sing on!

-Lucia Peters

We can all agree that Hugh Jackman is an extremely handsome man, right? Normally clean-cut and gentleman-like, he can also be a little more rugged if need be (hello, Wolverine!); but in either case, he usually looks quite well put-together and he rocks a tuxedo like no other.

Would it therefore surprise you if I told you that this picture here was of dear old Hugh?

How about this one?

He’s looking a little rough, isn’t he? But don’t worry, he hasn’t ACTUALLY become a scary, bald, bearded dude with a questionable sense of style. These are the first pics to emerge from the set of Les Miserables, the film adaptation of the musical based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel. Set against the backdrop of 19th century France, Les Mis follows ex-con Jean Valjean (Hugh, of course) as he makes his way through the tumultuous years leading up to the 1832 June Rebellion.

We think it’s pretty safe to assume that these images were shot while he was working on a scene from early in the film; the story opens when Valjean, in jail these past 19 years (five for stealing bread for his family, the rest for trying to escape), is being released on parole, so that explains his ragged, half-starved appearance. Back on March 8, Hugh Tweeted this pic with the message, “Day one of Les Mis shoot. Soooo excited!.” So are we!

The film also stars Russell Crowe as Javert, the policeman always on Valjean’s tail; Amanda Seyfried as Valjean’s adopted daughter, Cosette; Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena BonhamCarter as the vicious Thenardiers; Anne Hathaway as Fantine, Cosette’s ill-fated mother; Eddie Redmayne as Marius, Cosette’s love interest; and Samantha Barks (not, as previously thought, Taylor Swift) as Eponine, who has a terrible unrequited crush on Marius. It’s being directed by Tom Hooper, who is perhaps most well-known for the wonderful 2010 film The King’s Speech. Our hopes? Let’s just say that they’re high for this one.

Les Miserables is scheduled to hit cinemas on December 14, 2012. In the meantime, here’s “One Day More” from the Les Mis 25th Anniversary concert (and yes, that’s Nick Jonas as Marius).